A Fairy Tale of Sorts

Once upon a time there was this young 30 something mother who thought her life with a husband and two children (at the time) would be complete with a dog. She thought it would be sweet to get a small hypo-allergenic dog for her allergic children. She searched and searched and found said dog, purchased the dog and brought the dog home to live with her family.

It was fun for about 6 months and then the newness wore off. Her kids were over it and so was she. The picture she had painted in her head of days running, playing, skipping with the dog were renewed with reality of pee, poop and messes in the floor. Not to mention vet bills, incessant barking, annoying dog habits and expensive food and medicines for the dog.

She spent the next 3 years trying desperately to convince herself that she liked the dog, that her husband and children liked the dog. She and her husband even added another child into the mix to see if maybe that child would attach to the dog. Nothing worked. The dog was still more of a nuisance than anything and she was coming undone.

Then one day in a park near her home she met a crazy lady. Crazy about dogs that is. The lady talked of love, chipping her dogs, cooking chicken for her dogs and walking them until her hearts content.

So the 30 something mother loaded up that dog in the crazy lady's car dusted off her hands and bid farewell. After all it was a promotion for the dog and a detour from a life of Prozac for the mom. A win win if you will.

Some thought the young mother to be cruel but in reality keeping that dog would have been cruel. Some people don't grow up with dogs they grow up with people. And no matter how hard they try to have the American dream of 2.5 kids and a dog it is to no avail. It is not that there is a dislike for dogs it is more of a need for sanity in the home. Because one more Monday morning of stepping in dog poo or pee on the way out the door for carpool and sanity would have collapsed.

And in a world of fast paced technology, busy kids and life, well serenity is a must.

So don't judge but know that the dog is living Happily Ever After and the Young Mother is one less day away from having to move to the funny farm.

The End.

Goodbye Sweet "Pass"

All three of my children have been attached to a paci. Emma has been more attached than any of my three. She called it her "pass" and am I telling you it was a very part of her breath, life and soul. We knew giving them up would be a big deal.

So after having yet another episode of infected tonsils and realizing we were going to have to buy more of the dreaded paci's, we decided tonight would be the night. We prepared ourselves with scripture, prayer request and some chanting. Just kidding, sort of. Anyway, we went through our normal bedtime routine of bath, books and bed and then she said and I quote "Hey, we need my pass." To which I responded, "No, no more passes." And this is what ensued right after...are you ready???

Nothing. She simply said, "okay" laid her head down and went to sleep. Are you kidding? I almost woke her up and said, "wait a minute sister, I was ready for a fight." I had all this arsenal of tricks, pleading, bribing, etc...prepared and you just say, "okay???"

Wow, don't they surprise us at the very last minute? I am still in shock. I came downstairs and told Braxton that was way too easy. And then I warned the boys, if you see a pass throw it away immediately, and if you say the word pass, make reference to a pass, put anything in your mouth that might make her think of a pass, you will be grounded for 6 months. Just kidding again, sort of.

Then I started looking for pictures with her and that "pass" in her mouth and I am honestly a little bit sad. Another chapter done. And for the Bradys we are forever done with the paci. I am a little sentimental about it.

Starving

Now that I am back to reading and catching up on blogs I just sat down to read one of my favorites. http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com if you get a chance read it. In one of her recent post she shares about a young girl that is dying from starvation. She is 23 years old and weighs about the same as Emma Sanders who is 2 1/2. It breaks my heart.

Last night I went to the grocery store. As I was standing in line I read an email from a precious friend telling me to read the kisses from katie blog about the starving girl. As I moved forward in the line and my groceries started to be rung up the girl working there says this, "You know, it seems like grocery shopping has become a hobby to some people." I am not sure if she was talking directly to me or speaking of something else she saw but I took this word straight from the Lord. I think for me it was a lesson on not taking things for granted. There were certainly things in my basket that were not a need. Things that I bought because I knew it would bring smiles to my kids faces but really had nothing to do with their nutritional need. A hobby. Very convicting.

Then I started to think about starvation and what that means. This morning as I was praying and thinking through the past blog read and conversation I thought, I don't know anyone who is starving. Not anyone who will die because they don't have enough food. But then the Lord put this on my heart. You do know people who are starving. Not from the standpoint of physical food but spiritually starving. People who are constantly filling themselves with things that they think will make them feel full. Clothes, cars, jewelry, relationships, etc...all to find that it doesn't satisfy. From the outside they appear very full but inside they are discontent, unhappy, bitter, and hungry. And if you are a believer in Jesus then we know what does satisfy, what does fill you up. The bread of life.

In the last line of the email that my friend sent me about Katie's blog she said, "When are we going to Africa?" As much as I would love to hop on a plane tomorrow and go help with Katie's ministry or any other one there, I know that for now that can't happen. So what to do? Well, I think our response should be twofold. 1. Pray, send money, and help how we can from here to Katie's ministry and others like it. 2. Help the starving people you know here. We all know them, they are in our schools, workplaces, families, and even in our churches. Seek them out and show them that there is someone that fills even the deepest hunger.

Summer 2010

Wow, it has been awhile. Honestly I purposely took a little blogging break. I was starting to get a little sucked in to technology and putting things that were way more important on the back burner. So after a break and some realigning of priorities I'm back! A lot has happened since my last post so I am going to make a list just as a sweet reminder when I look back over this in the years to come.

1. June 29,2010 my sister gave birth to the sweetest, cutest, most adorable baby boy. Wyatt Andrew Ikerd. We could not love him more.

2. July 14-Preston Carter Brady turns 12. I don't have enough words to describe what an incredible young man he is. Smart, talented, kind, encouraging, helpful, those just scratch the surface.

3. July 25-August 4 we went on an amazing family vacation (including Nanach) to Snowmass, Co. Beautiful, gorgeous, breathtaking, relaxing, did not want to come home. Pictures on my smugmug. www.bradybunch2.smugmug.com

4. August 18-School starts!!!! 2010-2011 School year. Preston 6th grade, Bennett 1st grade, Emma Sanders in PDO at 2nd Presbyterian church. We are excited about a great school year!

Change in the City

I just finished reading an article in the New York Times about our city and the trouble going on here with race and socioeconomic issues. Some things never change, unfortunately. And yet some things do change, slowly but change nonetheless. Read this article if you get a chance and pray for our city, for people being taken advantage of, for people that would rather turn their heads and walk away than to help change this place for the better. It is part of the reason we live in the neighborhood that we do.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/business/economy/31memphis.html?pagewanted=1&ref=business

What this article did not report on is some of the good going on in this city, some of the change that has been for the better. Every morning last week I would wake up and see 9 young adults work on Ms. Farris' house next door. They were here with a group from SOS, www.sosmemphis.org, who were giving Ms. Farris a new roof but much more than that when you look below the surface. They were giving her a glimmer of hope, good change in the midst of bad, a picture of Jesus. Each afternoon they sat on her front porch, sharing lunch and a devotional with her. They gave her warm smiles each morning as they arrived and hugs each afternoon when they left. They were young adults who have given up a week of their summer to be in the extreme heat of Memphis not because they had to but because they wanted to, because they know change is a good thing or at least it can be.

Apathy is probably one of the worst problems we see here in Binghampton. Either people are so far at the bottom they don't care anymore or they think that no one else cares so why should they. I believe that if we eradicate this apathy we will begin to see big change here. When people like Ms. Farris see that people love her and care then she starts to care. And hopefully there is a ripple effect.

Yes, there are problems here. Problems with the economy, problems with race, problems with drugs, crime, the list goes on...and truthfully it can wear on you, make you feel like we have taken one step forward but two steps back. But I believe in a God of redemption and restoration, one that is alive and well in Binghampton, Memphis and the world.

Insight

This week was an exciting one for the Brady family. Tuesday morning Tim Tebow spoke at PDS chapel and then Tuesday night we were invited to go meet him in person. The boys were practically walking on air. I am pretty sure Preston's face hurt him the next day from smiling so much.

I can honestly say after meeting Tim Tebow he is as true as he seems. I remember two years ago watching his acceptance speech of the Heisman trophy and standing there with tears in my eyes thanking the Lord that there was a great athlete that my boys could look up to. Someone that loved Jesus more than he loved sports, someone that recognizes where his athletic ability comes from and gives thanks for it everyday. Ever since then our family has been following Tim Tebow. Several times I have used him as an example after Preston or Bennett have lost a game or had a poor sportsmanship attitude. But in the back of my mind I have always wondered, is this guy real? Is he saying all the right things, smiling, wearing scripture under his eyes, etc... but what is really in his heart?

Well, I met him firsthand on Tuesday night and what comes out of his mouth is due to an overflow of his heart. He is in love with Jesus and not afraid to share that. He was one of the nicest guys I have ever met and it was a joy to get to spend some time with him. When I met him I asked him to tell me two things that he thought his parents did to raise him well and for him to be the man of character that he has become. Here was his response.

"It is hard to narrow it down to two things. But if I could just give you two off the top of my head it would be to build confidence in your kids and to teach them to have their own faith." He went on to say that peer pressure was never a major problem for him or his siblings because his parents taught him from the very beginning that their identity comes from Christ. His parents constantly pointed out things that they saw that were gifts from the Lord in their children and instilled a sense of self worth and confidence in them that can only come from Christ. Tim said, "When other kids were doing things that were wrong, I would think, I don't need that or for you to think I am cool. I know who I am in Christ and I know what he thinks of me and that is all that matters."

He went on to say to make sure your kids have their own faith and can stand alone. Don't let them rely on your faith so much that when they get in the world they really don't know what they believe. Teach them how to stand up for what they believe in and make sure never to force them into a religion.

I have been thinking a lot about that conversation over the past few days. And I have started trying to point out to my kids what I see in them in as gifts from the Lord. Yesterday we were riding home and Bennett saw some run down apartments, he made a comment about how if we could help people take care of their property, cut their grass, pick up the trash that maybe they would feel better about where they live. I said, "Bennett you know what? God has given you a gift of great insight. That means that you see things that other people don't see. That you look through eyes that want to help people and see the good in things and what can be done to make it better, not the bad. We are so proud of you and love that you have great insight."

Bennett turns to me puts two fingers in front of his eyes. "I can see through my fingers too mom." Okay, so not the point but hopefully someday he will think back and understand what I was telling him. Preston who was sitting in the front seat looks at me after a few minutes of silence and says, "Can he really see through them mom?"

Wow, we have a long way to go.

Speak into your child today a confidence that comes from Christ. Let them know the gifts He has given them and guide them into making their faith their own. Tim Tebow's parents did and it has made all the difference.

Why?

We have been living in our new house for 2 months now. Crazy! It has really been a whirlwind and I think we all finally feel settled. Emma is now in a big girl bed, Bennett has adjusted to sleeping in a room by himself and Preston has grown 2 inches stands at 5ft tall and sleeps in a Queen size bed. 3 more inches and he will be standing eye to eye with me. He is not even 12 yet if that gives you an idea of what I am going to be looking up to.

So many times people ask us, "what do you do in Binghampton?" To which we respond, we don't "do" anything. We just live our lives according to the gospel, love our neighbor as ourself, love each other, love Jesus, etc...It is what we should all be doing. No matter what your zip code.

But over the past two months it has hit me several times why we live here, not what we do but why we do it. The bottom line and easy answer would be to tell you that we do it because it is what God has called our family to. But here is the hard answer and much longer one. So for those of you that like easy you can stop now.

A couple of weeks ago I spent 20 minutes having a conversation with Precious ( a girl in our neighborhood) about how we don't hit to get our point across. I then spent another 20 telling her cousin that you don't ask people what they bought you when they get back from the store.

The next day I spent a good chunk of time explaining to one of the boys that you don't cheat in a game just to win. That you should play by the rules. A couple of nights later Erin and I fed 3 kids on our street pizza, carrots and fruit. Kids that otherwise might not have eaten supper. We talked to them about being gracious and kind. Last week I called code enforcement on an empty lot that people had started using as their own personal trash dump, it was cleaned up a few days later.

Every night we pray with our kids and ask for God to bless our neighborhood, to help us share Jesus with our neighbors and for the poor. We talk to our kids about injustice and what the Bible teaches on how to take care of the orphan and the widow.

Tonight my 11 year old shared about Jesus with his two year old sister. He told her how much Jesus loved her and asked her if she loved Jesus. She said No, but that is beside the point. She says no to just about everything these days.

Here is what I am really trying to say. Why do we do it? We do it because someone has to. If Precious, Marquavius, Keisha, etc... are not taught about grace and love, if they are not taught how not to cheat, steal and use their words instead of their fist then they will not know to be or do any different. They will turn into teenagers, young adults, men and women who steal, lie, cheat and maybe worse because no one will have ever shown or told them any different. If someone does not watch out for the elderly like Ms. Farris, she will be taken advantage of. If someone doesn't call code enforcement and get streets, lots and houses cleaned up then this neighborhood will continue to decline.

We do it because we believe that Jesus is bigger than any problem the hood has ever seen. We believe that by our kids watching, learning and growing up here they will learn how to take initiative for the benefit of others, how to share Jesus ( it is already happening with Preston,) and they will know they are not better than others because they are white, live in a "good" neighborhood or get a good education.

I don't know that we will ever see any fruit from the relationships that we build here. And honestly sometimes it feels futile. But I am told to put my trust in eternal things to put my hope in the unseen. So are we making a difference? I don't know, I would like to think so, but if nothing else it is impacting my family to count the cost and realize that this life is not about us. And I could not be more grateful for the call to be here.

That is why we live here. That is why we do what we do. It is why we are who we are.